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Vineyard Swimmers Compete in Italy

Three Vineyard swimmers swam for Team USA and the New England Masters Swim club at the FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Riccione, Italy from June 3 to June 17. The competition brought together from around the world more than 12,000 masters division pool and open water swimmers, water polo players, divers and synchronized swimmers.

In the 40-to-44 year old age group, Rainy Goodale set a new New England record of 37.53 seconds in the 50 meter breaststroke on her way to eighth place. She also set another New England record in the 100 meter breaststroke, swimming 1:23.06 and placing 10th. Rainy previously held both of these New England records which she set at the 2010 World Masters Championships. Rainy also placed 10th in the 200 meter breaststroke with a time of 3:04.77.

In the 50-to-54 year old age group, Sue Jensen, an Aquinnah summer resident, competed in five individual events. Sue placed 13th in her age group in the grueling 400 meter individual medley with a time of 6:40.58, 15th in the 200 meter individual medley (3:06.43), 18th in the 800 meter freestyle (11:36.45), 26th in the 200 meter freestyle (2:40.22) and 28th in the 100 meter freestyle (1:12.44).

Les Cutler was the only New England swimmer on Team USA in his age group (65 to 69) to compete in the World 3000 meter Open Water Championships. Because of strong tides and other factors, the 1.86 mile course was challenging, and 14 of the 59 qualifying starters in his age group failed to complete the swim before the 90 minute cut-off time. Les completed the swim in 63:48.8 finishing 43rd in his age group.

All three of these swimmers were back in the Martha’s Vineyard YMCA pool last week training for various summer events and thinking about the next FINA World Masters Championships, which will be held in Montreal in August, 2014.